Wilkins warns against dismissing Ancelotti

10 May 2011 04:00

Ray Wilkins has insisted Chelsea would be making a mistake by sacking manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Wilkins, who was Ancelotti's assistant until his own controversial dismissal in November, is also adamant wholesale changes are not need to the club's squad.
He told BBC Radio Five Live: "I don't think it needs a radical change, but they certainly need new players to freshen the place up.
"Wholesale changes, starting from the coach, would be the wrong way to go."
The departure of Wilkins has been cited by some as the catalyst for Chelsea's worst run in the Barclays Premier League for almost 15 years, which is set to ultimately cost them the title and there have also been suggestions their ageing squad is now past its best.
But Wilkins, who is still in touch with Ancelotti, said: "Chelsea have a nucleus of players, I know a lot is spoken about how old these players are but, trust me, the fitness levels are exceptionally high. The age thing does not really creep in. They do have the fitness levels of younger men."